Anti-arcing electrical connector



' April 14, 1970 I J. c. 'REDCN ANTI-ARCING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

Filed June 17, 1968 m DE n: 2 ON f m 0 o. 0 v! HN\ E '0 1M, MN. Q 3 2 2 a a 01 v n [An/amm- J'm/v C. IQEDOA/ United States Patent 3,506,946 ANTI-ARCING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Jean Claude Redon, 16 Avenue Marechal Foch, Marseille, France Filed June 17, 1968, Ser. No. 737,538 Claims priority, applicatitgzgrance, Aug. 10, 1967,

Int. 01.1101513/52, 13/24 US. Cl. 339111 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE tacts are brought into abutment to complete a circuit from the jaws to the conductor.

The invention consists of the construction of an antiarcing device for a vehicle used for the transport of explosive or other materials and needing to be earthed simply and perfectly safely.

It features, either together or separately, a casing and a slidable cylindrical mounting controlling the opening and closing of a jaw by symmetrical axial movements by means of pushers in order to eliminate all inertia at the start of the operation; a spring catch fitted on the sliding unit locks automatically at the end of the thrust, and a return spring keeps the jaw open and out of circuit if the thrust is inadequate.

In the accompanying drawing, referring to a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the device.

FIG. 2 gives a perspective view of the current collector.

The device comprises a hollow casing 1 inside which there is longitudinally movable a slide cylinder 2 closed by a wall 3 fitted with a stuffing gland 4 by which is mounted a contact maker 5 connected to a jaw 6 by a conductor 7.

The front end of the slide cylinder 2 has a double radial guide-hole in which pushers 8, 9 slide when moving along ramps 10, 11.

The end of the cylinder 2 of smaller diameter protruding at the end of the casing 1 comprises a recess 12 receiving a spring catch 13 operated by a spring 14 and pivoting on a pivot pin 15. The cylinder 2 is propelled by a return spring 16 butting on a fixed mounting 17 carrying the casing 1.

Axially the mounting 17 is fitted with a contact pin 18 positioned in the gas-tight anti-deflagration chamber 19 and aligned axially with a hollow contact 20 of the contact maker 5. This pin 18 is connected to an earthing conductor 22. The centre part of the mounting 17 is hollow and receives a stuffing-gland 18a, a cable holder 19a and gas-tight insulating stoppers 23.

The vehicle can be fitted with a current collector 24 (FIG. 2) which corresponds exactly to the contact profile of the jaw.

The advantages and working of this device are immediately evident.

The casing 1 is slidable on the cylinder 2. Thrust exerted on casing 1 in the direction to move the slide away from its first end position of movement disengages the pushers 8, 9 and ensures the immediate closing of the alligator jaw Patented Apr. 14, 1970 "ice 6 which closes on the current-collector 24. The shape of this current collector 24 makes any tearing by the jaw 6 impossible. At the end of the thrust the spring-catch 13 automatically goes into it housing 12 and ensures continuity of contact between the hollow contact 20 and the contact pin 13.

If this continuity is not provided due to inadequate thrust the jaw remains open and out of circuit because of the action of the return spring 16. The device is designed to withstand mechanically and thermally the effects of a possible explosion in the chamber 19. And in case of arcing, no flame can emerge from the device.

The opening of the jaw is effected by pressing the spring catch 13. The cable holder 19a resists any pull on the internal connections of the cable 22.

Finally, the lightness, strength and easy handling of this device eliminate the disadvantages encountered in similar known devices and provides maximum safety against all vehicle earthing risks.

The invention may be summarised as follows:

An anti-arcing device for earthing vehicles or other things, featuring:

(l) A cylindrical slide controlling the jaw by symmetrical axial movements by means of pushers and eliminating all inertia at the start of the operation;

(2) A spring-catch which latches automatically at the end of the thrust and provide continuity of contact between the fixed barrel and the movable contact pin;

(3) A return spring preventing, it the thrust is inadequate, the closing of the jaw which, remaining open and out of circuit, eliminates all spark risks;

(4) Fixed contact parts and movable conductor parts insulated with stuffing-boxes and packing preventing any flame from coming out of the device.

I claim:

1. An anti-arcing electrical connector comprising a hollow casing, a slide movable longitudinally in said casing and defining therewith a gas-tight chamber, return spring means abutting on the casing and on the slide and urging the slide into a first end position of movement, a springclosed contact jaws device carried by the slide, coacting cam and cam-follower means provided on the casing and slide and positioned to hold said jaws open when the slide is in said first position, respective electrical contacts carried by the casing and slide in the gas-tight chamber, said respective contacts being positioned such that as the slide is moved from its first end position of movement towards its other end position of movement firstly the contact jaws are allowed to close whereafter, following an interval of time, the respective contacts are brought into abutment.

2. An anti-arcing electrical connector, as claimed in claim 1, comprising means on the casing for latching the slide releasably in its second end position of movement.

3. An anti-arcing electrical connector, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said coacting cam and cam follower means consist respectively of inclined ramp surfaces in said casing and radially movable pushers seated in radial recesses in said slide, each pusher abutting at one end against a ramp surface and at the other end against a aw.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,894,205 7/1959 Schrock et a1 339108 X 3,038,972 6/1962 Lagier 339-111 X 3,384,861 5/1968 Phillips 339111 RICHARD E. MOORE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 339-260 

